Live At Home, a charity that helps help older people to live independently, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

The charity began in 1998 and its services have developed and expanded gradually since.

Today, there are four Live At Home schemes - Douglas, western, eastern and northern - the latter also includes the Northern Men In Sheds group.

In total, these schemes have 725 members who all have access to a range of services, including one-to-one befriending, regular social groups, lunch clubs, film clubs, and shopping clubs, all with transport provided

Live At Home has 15 staff, and a network of 350 volunteers.

David Gawne MBE, chairman of Live At Home, said: ’This is a very special year for Live At Home.

’It is a time to celebrate the past 20 years, and look forward to the next 20 by setting new aims and ambitions for the charity. We are starting the celebrations with the launch of a new brand which we think truly reflects the energy and passion that we have for what we do.

’Live At Home, during our 20th anniversary year, is dedicated to campaigning to end loneliness within the island’s population of older people.

’We are planning a number of events and projects during 2018 to raise awareness of the impact of loneliness and isolation in later life, and to identify initiatives to address these issues in addition to the work already being done by our Live At Home schemes.’

As has been the case over the last 20 years, Live At Home will continue to rely on the public to donate and raise funds.

It costs £250,000 a year to run the wide range of services which the charity provides in communities across the island. The cost of running one of the charity’s lunch clubs alone costs £6,000 a year.

A number of fundraising events are planned for this year, including a volunteer awareness day at Tesco, a sponsored prom walk, a in and prosecco evening, Bootleg Bee Gees concert and an autumn ball.

Readers who would like to make a donation, organise a fundraising event, or want information about how the charity could help them or someone they know, should email [email protected] or phone the head office on 616571. Live At Home members, staff and volunteers gathered at the HQ Bar in Douglas to celebrate the anniversary on Tuesday.